FS: Celestion A3 Speakers - VGC

[Edward]

NOW SOLD (I will miss these beauties!)

A very reluctant sale (due to WAF).

Celestion A3 floorstanding speakers. These speakers are simply awesome in terms of scale, impact, definition, micro-detail, width and soundstage.

These belong to a friend who allowed me to try before buying. However due to WAF I'm simply not allowed to keep them. I also realistically don't have the storage to keep them until WAF abates. :) I know I will regret having to sell them.

These speakers were the top of the range speakers Celestion made at the time (early 90s). No expense was spared in pursuit of quality.

Finished in Rosewood Santos and owned by my friend since new these speakers are in very good condition both cosmetically and soundwise. The tweeters on the A3s were a weak point, these have been replaced by ugraded/compatible KEF units (who made the original drivers). Invoice (Oct '14 for £226) for the new KEF units available. There is a small discolouration (1.1cm by 0.5mm) on the top of one speaker and a small (0.5mm) nick on the rear of the same speaker. Otherwise near mint I would say - but sold in VGC. These speakers just give and give.

Collection only due to weight/size (London N2 area - tea/biscuits). In fact I would highly recommend a good listen to these speakers - and if you wish to bring your own amp you are most welcome.

These speakers are a two-man lift (each weigh nearly 50kg) and will require an estate or large hatchback for delivery. Of course I will help with the pickup.

Original boxes and inserts with sale. Also with spike insulators (as pictured).

review
http://www.audioenz.co.nz/1997/11/celestion-a3/

Specs:

Frequency response: 36Hz-20kHz±2dB
Output sound pressure level: 90dB/2.83V/m
Impedance: 4ohms
Maximum input: 200W
Crossover frequency: 300Hz, 3kHz
Dimensions: Width 280x height 1130x depth of 400mm
Weight: 46kg

£800.

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[Lawrence001]

PM sent

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[Edward]

And replied to ....

:cool:

[tapid]

Thats a shame Edward they look immense
50 k each, blooming heck. Lawrence is a good guy to deal with ( picked up some hi fi mags there once ),
Your near me as well but just to heavy to manage, and same as you er indoors no likey !.

[Edward]

Still for sale ...

Lawrence and I discussed this. As we all know Lawrence is a purist (:)) and given that the tweeters were replaced the speakers are not pure he has declined the opportunity. Thanks for the interest Lawrence.

Brian (tapid) - feel free to come and listen. I'm sure you will want them and convince er indoors it is a 'must'. :eyebrows:

Edward

[tapid]

Thanks for the offer mate, will pm you.

[Lawrence001]

Some crossed lines between email and SMS messages yesterday evening, but I am still trying to arrange a demo..

[Edward]

Sold, paid for and delivered. Awesome sound in Lawrence's gaff.

Thanks for the easy purchase Lawrence - I'm sure you will have many years enjoyable listening to these speakers.

[Lawrence001]

Ah music again at last!

Thanks for dropping them off Edward, nice to meet you too. They sound lovely even in the bay, no boom. Now to do some serious listening to these custom Kef replacement tweeters.. Not sure what the wife will say when she gets back later!

[Edward]

Oh I'm sure she will love them especially once she hears of your daughter's custom paint job she is planning. Purple was it? Or Pink? Go for a mixture. I understand that Dulux do especially good paints. :lol:

In the meantime get your daughter to start with the crayons you suggested she use.

[Macca]

Hi Lawrence

Just wondering what amp you are using them with?

[Lawrence001]

Ice power 1000asp (1000wpc into 4 ohms, which I think these are), with signal attenuated by a Django TVC with S&B transformers.

[Macca]

I've got the HFW reviews for the A3 and A2 and they measured them at 6.5 ohm overall, going down to 3 ohm minimum. I had the A2 for a long time and they were very fussy with amps that could not supply enough current for them. I suspect that is why they are not generally appreciated as much as they should be.

Anyways, enjoy!. In a biggish room with no shortage of power I bet they will sound magnificent. Proper loudspeakers.

[Lawrence001]

Ooh thanks for the info would you mind scanning/photographing them for me to read please? I can PM you my email. I have been tempted to sell this amp as it's overkill on most speakers, but it's nice to have an amp you know can drive anything.

I was worried about 2 things with these, the rear ports with them being in a bay, and the new tweeters. From my listening so far, I needn't have worried.

[Macca]

I'll see if I can sort out some scans for you, send me your e-mail. Don't own a scanner but I know where one is.

According to HFW in a smaller room the rear ports will cancel the bass below 40 hz so you will get a steep drop off below that, hence no bass boom. If you can get them out into free space the rear wave will be in phase and extend bass down to 20Hz at 'useful output'. The A2 was the same but being only a 2 and half way it was a more compromised design in terms of absolute sound quality.

[Edward]

According to HFW ...



Martin, please could you let me know which edition of HFW mentioned the A3s? Cheers

[Macca]

They are reviewed in the May 1997 issue.

[Edward]

Cheers mate.

[tapid]

Glad everything worked out well for you both. Would have been nice to hear the speaks, but the weight alone would have been a problem,
me thinks! Thanks for the offer of demo and cuppa Edward b.t.w. cheers. Think your in for a treat Lawrence, enjoy.

[Lawrence001]

I was worried about you getting back with those magazines in a suitcase, but 100kg of 4ft speakers would be a bit OTT I imagine!

Thanks for the kind words earlier btw.

Lawrence
Glad everything worked out well for you both. Would have been nice to hear the speaks, but the weight alone would have been a problem,
me thinks! Thanks for the offer of demo and cuppa Edward b.t.w. cheers. Think your in for a treat Lawrence, enjoy.

[tapid]

I can hear my hernia groaning at the thought Lawrence ! Yes, I still have nightmares about getting up the steps at east finchley mate especially when half
of the magazines tipped out, oohh. Still flick through them at times though, interesting to see the old articles and prices. Well there s some great listening awaiting
you over the coming weeks i m sure,. enjoy the speakers !

[Lawrence001]

Btw did you have the May 97 HFW in that lot?

[Edward]

Lawrence

The friend who owned your A3 speakers has HFW going back decades. He is on holiday at mo, I was planning on asking him to dig up the relevant edition when he gets back next week. But maybe Martin will have sorted you by then?

Ed

[Macca]

I'll see if I can get it done tomorrow. Can take a document pic with my phone I think.

[tapid]

Sorry no luck with may 97 issue Lawrence.

[Lawrence001]

Thanks, didn't mean to ask you to copy it, Martin has kindly offered to do that, I just wondered if I had got rid of my copy.

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[tapid]

Got rid of a few so not sure if I had that one anyway ? Might be worth checking the bottom of stn steps though !

[Lawrence001]

Been doing some serious listening tonight, these might be the ones...

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[Lawrence001]

It seems these dominate the room a bit too much. I can kind of see the point. Not formally agreed anything yet, but if anyone is interested in them, give me a shout.